MANON LESCAUT (3)

2006-08-28 14:51

III

That we can call these delicate creatures ours, And not their appetites.

SHAKESPEARE.

"The whole affair was so involved in obscurity that I could not see my way even to a reasonable conjecture. I was cruelly betrayed——that was certain； but by whom？ Tiberge first occurred to me. `Tiberge！' said I, `it is as much as thy life is worth, if my suspicions turn out to be well founded.' However, I recollected that he could not by possibility know my abode； and therefore, he could not have furnished the information. To accuse Manon was more than my heart was capable of. The unusual melancholy with which she had lately seemed weighed down, her tears, the tender kiss she gave me in parting, made it all as yet a mystery to me. I could only look upon her recent melancholy as a presentiment of our common misfortune； and while I was deploring the event which tore me from her, I was credulous enough to consider her fate as much deserving of pity as my own.

"The result of my reflections was, that I had been seen and followed in the streets of Paris by some persons of my acquaintance, who had conveyed the information to my father. This idea comforted me. I made up my mind to encounter some reproaches, or perhaps harsh treatment, for having outraged the paternal authority. I resolved, however, to suffer with patience, and to promise all that might be required of me, in order to facilitate my speedy return to Paris, that I might restore life and happiness to my dear Manon.

"We soon arrived at St. Denis. My brother, surprised at my long silence, thought it the effect of fear. He assured me that I had nothing to apprehend from my father's severity, provided I showed a disposition to return quietly to the path of duty, and prove myself worthy of his affection. He made me pass the night at St. Denis, merely taking the precaution of putting the three lackeys to sleep in my room. It cost me a pang to find myself in the same inn where I had stopped with Manon on our way from Amiens to Paris. The innkeeper and his servants recognised me, and guessed at once the truth of my history. I overheard them say, `Ah！ that's the handsome young gentleman who travelled this road about a month ago, with the beautiful girl he appeared so much in love with！ How pretty she was！ The poor young things, how they caressed each other！ Pity if they have been separated！' I pretended not to hear, and kept as much out of sight as possible.

"At St. Denis my brother had a chariot waiting for us, in which we started early the next morning, and arrived at home before night.

He saw my father first, in order to make a favourable impression by telling him how quietly I had allowed myself to be brought away, so that his reception of me was less austere than I had expected. He merely rebuked me in general terms for the offence I had committed, by absenting myself without his permission. As for my mistress, he said I richly deserved what had happened to me, for abandoning myself to a person utterly unknown； that he had entertained a better opinion of my discretion； but that he hoped this little adventure would make me wiser. I took the whole lecture only in the sense that accorded with my own notions. I thanked my father for his indulgence, and promised that I would in future observe a better regulated and more obedient course of conduct. I felt that I had secured a triumph； for, from the present aspect of affairs, there was no doubt that I should be free to effect my escape from the house even before the night was over.

"We sat down to supper. They rallied me about my Amiens conquest, and my flight with that paragon of fidelity. I took their jokes in good part, glad enough at being permitted to revolve in my mind the plans I had meditated； but some words which fell from my father made me listen with earnest attention. He spoke of perfidy, and the not disinterested kindness he had received at the hands of M. de B——。 I was almost paralysed on hearing the name, and begged of my father to explain himself. He turned to my brother, to ask if he had not told me the whole story. My brother answered, that I appeared to him so tranquil upon the road, that he did not suppose I required this remedy to cure me of my folly. I remarked that my father was doubtful whether he should give me the explanation or not. I entreated him so earnestly that he satisfied me, or I should rather say tortured me, with the following most horrible narration. "He began by asking me whether I was really simple enough to believe that I had been really loved by the girl. I told him confidently that I was perfectly sure of it, and that nothing could make me for a moment doubt it. `Ha, ha, ha！' said he, with a loud laugh； `that is excellent！ you are a pretty dupe！ Admirable idea！ 'Twould be a thousand pities, my poor chevalier, to make you a Knight of Malta, with all the requisites you possess for a patient and accommodating husband.' He continued in the same tone to ridicule what he was pleased to call my dullness and credulity.

"He concluded, while I maintained a profound silence, by saying that, according to the nicest calculation he could make of the time since my departure from Amiens, Manon must have been in love with me about twelve days； `for,' said he, `I know that you left Amiens on the th of last month； this is, the th of the present； it is eleven days since M. de B——wrote to me； I suppose he required eight days to establish a perfect understanding with your mistress； so that, take eight and eleven from thirty-one days, the time between the th of one month and the th of the next, there remains twelve, more or less！' This joke war, followed by shouts of laughter.

"I heard it all with a kind of sinking of the heart that I thought I could not bear up against, until he finished. `You must know then,' continued my father, `since you appear as yet ignorant of it, that M. de B—— has won the affections of your idol； for he can't be serious in pretending that it is his disinterested regard for me that has induced him to take her from you. It would be absurd to expect such noble sentiments from a man of his description, and one, besides, who is a perfect stranger to me. He knew that you were my son, and in order to get rid of you, he wrote to inform me of your abode, and of the life you led； saying, at the same time, that strong measures would be necessary to secure you.

He offered to procure me the means of laying hold of you； and it was by his direction, as well as that of your mistress herself, that your brother hit upon the moment for catching you unawares. Now, you may congratulate yourself upon the duration of your triumph. You know how to conquer, rapid enough； but you have yet to learn how to secure your conquests.' "I could no longer endure these remarks, every one of which struck a dagger to my heart. I arose from the table, and had not advanced four steps towards the door, when I fell upon the floor, perfectly senseless. By prompt applications they soon brought me to myself. My eyes opened only to shed a torrent of tears, and my lips to utter the most sorrowful and heartrending complaints. My father, who always loved me most affectionately, tried every means to console me. I listened to him, but his words were without effect. I threw myself at his feet, in the attitude of prayer, conjuring him to let me return to Paris, and destroy the monster B——。 `No！'cried I； `he has not gained Manon's heart； he may have seduced her by charms, or by drugs； he may have even brutally violated her. Manon loves me. Do I not know that well？ He must have terrified her with a poniard, to induce her to abandon me.' What must he not have done to have robbed me of my angelic mistress？ Oh Heaven！ Heaven！ can it be possible that Manon deceived me, or that she has ceased to love me！

"As I continued to rave about returning at once to Paris, and was perpetually starting up with that purpose, my father clearly saw that while the paroxysm lasted, no arguments could pacify me. He conducted me to one of the upper rooms, and left two servants to keep constant watch over me. I was completely bewildered. I would have given a thousand lives to be but for one quarter of an hour in Paris. I had sense enough, however, to know that having so openly declared my intention, they would not easily allow me to quit my chamber. I looked at the height of the windows. Seeing no possibility of escaping that way, I addressed the servants in the most tranquil tone. I promised, with the most solemn vows, to make at some future day their fortunes, if they would but consent to my escape. I entreated them； I tried caresses, and lastly threats； but all were unavailing. I gave myself up to despair. I resolved to die； and threw myself upon the bed, with a firm determination to quit it only with my life. In this situation I passed the night and the following day. refused the nourishment that was brought to me next morning.

"My father came to see me in the afternoon. He tried in the most affectionate manner, to soothe my grief. He desired me so urgently to take some refreshment, that, to gratify him, I obeyed his wishes. Several days passed, during which I took nothing but in his presence, and at his special request. He continued to furnish new arguments to restore me to my proper senses, and to inspire me with merited contempt for the faithless Manon. I certainly had lost all esteem for her： how could I esteem the most fickle and perfidious of created beings！ But her image-those exquisite features, which were engraven on my heart's core, were still uneffaced. I understood my own feelings： `I may die,' said I, `and I ought to die after so much shame and grief； but I might suffer a thousand deaths without being able to forget the ingrate Manon.'

"My father was surprised at my still continuing so powerfully affected. He knew that I was imbued with the principles of honour； and not doubting that her infidelity must make me despise her, fancied that my obstinacy proceeded less from this particular passion, than from a general inclination towards the sex. This idea so took possession of his mind, that, prompted only by his affection for me, he came one day to reveal his thoughts. `Chevalier,' said he to me, `it has been hitherto my intention to make you bear the Cross of Malta： I now see that your inclinations do not bend that way. You are an admirer of beauty. I shall be able to find you a wife to your taste. Let me candidly know how you feel upon the subject.'

"I answered that I could never again see the slightest difference amongst women, and that after the misfortune I had experienced, I detested them all equally. `I will find you one,' replied my father, smiling, `who shall resemble Manon in beauty, but who shall be more faithful.' `Ah！ if you have any mercy,' said I, `you will restore my Manon to me. Be assured, my dear father, that she has not betrayed me； she is incapable of such base and cruel treachery. It is the perfidious B—— who deceives both her and me. If you could form an idea of her tenderness and her sincerity——if you only knew her, you yourself would love her！' `You are absolutely a child,' replied my father. `How can you so delude yourself, after what I have told you about her？ It was she who actually delivered you up to your brother. You ought to obliterate even her name from your memory, and take advantage, if you are wise, of the indulgence I am showing you.'

"I very clearly perceived that my father was right. It was an involuntary emotion that made me thus take part with the traitor. `Alas！' replied I, after a moment's silence, `it is but too true that I am the unhappy victim of the vilest perfidy. Yes,' I continued, while shedding tears of anger, `I too clearly perceive that I am indeed but a child. Credulity like mine was easily gulled； but I shall be at no loss to revenge myself.' My father enquired of me my intentions： `I will go to Paris,' I said, `set fire to B——'s house, and immolate him and the perfidious Manon together.' This burst made my father laugh, and had only the effect of causing me to be more vigilantly watched in my cell.

I thus passed six long months； during the first of which my mind underwent little change. My feelings were in a state of perpetual alternation between hate and love； between hope and despair； according as, the tendency of each passing thought brought Manon back to my recollection. At one time, I could see in her the most delightful of women only, and sigh for the pleasure of beholding her once more； at another, I felt she was the most unworthy and perfidious of mistresses, and I would on these occasions swear never again to seek her, but for the purpose of revenge.

"I was supplied with books, which served to restore my peace of mind. I read once again all my favourite authors； and I became acquainted with new ones. All my former taste for study was revived. You will see of what use this was to me in the sequel. The light I had already derived from love, enabled me to comprehend many passages in Horace and Virgil which had before appeared obscure. I wrote an amatory commentary upon the fourth book of the AEneid. I intend one day to publish it, and I flatter myself it will be popular.

"`Alas！' I used to exclaim, whilst employed on that work, it was for a heart like mine the faithful Dido sighed, and sighed in vain！'